Morgan C., a reader and friend of TastyChomps.com, recently e-mailed me about Katie Paiva of Heartsong Cookies and her dreams of owning her food truck. Here is what he told me:
“Well, for starters, the woman behind the operation is one of the most generous, kind, and amazing women I’ve ever met. She makes everyone she comes in contact with feel loved by offering a hug with each cookie she sells (or more often than not gives away). She has been working with individuals who have struggled with low self confidence and other challenges by getting them in the kitchen with her, working with her at the Maitland and Lake Mary Farmer’s Market, and naming cookies after them. The effect she has on her surrounding community is incredible.
Secondly, her cookies are hands down the best I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot of cookies!). She has special baking techniques that require her constant care and attention at the oven, but make her cookies phenomenal. She also experiments with crazy flavor combinations like Andes Mint S’more, Ginger Peach Almond, White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan, Dark Chocolate with Cayenne and Pepitas, and on and on. She even incorporates beer and potato chips to some of her cookies! If you were to ask her to create a special cookie flavor for you, she would show up to the Farmer’s Market next week having experimented with your request and with a delicious treat named after you. And she would probably give you a bag for good measure. And definitely a hug.
Finally, her passion and integrity always astound me. She has been a friend of mine for a couple of years now, and each and every time we talk about the effect the business has on her life she begins to cry. She works a full time job on top of Heartsong Cookies (sometimes more than full time), but still manages to bake for her regular orders at Kappy’s in Maitland and Bikes, Beans, Bordeaux in Winter Park, special orders, charity events like Relay for Life, and then just some extras for people who need some sweetness in their lives. Shes up all hours of the night most nights, but is constantly energized by the effect her cookies have on people. Its like magic.
Shes hoping to have a cookies and milk truck up and running this summer, which is why we’re trying to get the word out about her story. She would LOVE to do a food truck where she can drive her cookies to food truck pod events and charity events and also provide milk with homemade syrups and ice cream for ice cream/cookie sandwiches. Is there anything more comforting to the soul than a good glass of milk and a cookie?
If you need more info on the company/food truck project you can watch the video on her Kickstarter page at: http://kck.st/IBvF0f”
After many hug filled weekends at Lake Mary and Maitland Markets, Heartsong Cookies is ready to take the next step in its business growth. It is ready to be a dynamic part of the Central Florida community participating in food truck pod events, festivals and fundraisers. The owners are in the process of acquiring a 1977 vintage ice cream truck, which will be transformed into the Heartsong Cookies and Moo Truck. To do this they need your help to make the necessary repairs, wrap the truck in Heartsong finery and add equipment such as a generator and portable sink. In addition to a variety of cookie flavors, the Heartsong Cookies and Moo Truck will serve icy cold milk flavored with homemade syrups like chocolate, coffee, caramel and strawberry. Future plans include Heartsong Cookies ice cream sandwiches. Katie promises to continue to produce the best cookies filled with creativity and love, to pass out hugs every day and to foster a groundswell of the Power of Good within our community.
Check them out today and help out Heartsong Cookies and Moo truck become a reality!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2046188010/heartsong-cookies-and-moo-truck
PLEDGE $1 OR MORE
Heartsong Cookies button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jun 2012
PLEDGE $5 OR MORE
A Hug bag with two Heartsong Cookies, a button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jun 2012
PLEDGE $15 OR MORE
A basket of 6 Heartsong Cookies dressed in Heartsong finery, a button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jun 2012
PLEDGE $25 OR MORE
A VIP invitation to the Inaugural Heartsong Cookies and Moo Truck party, a basket of 6 Heartsong Cookies, a button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jun 2012
PLEDGE $50 OR MORE
A Heartsong Cookies T-shirt, a cookie named in your honor, a VIP invitation to Inaugural party, a basket of 6 Heartsong Cookies, a button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jun 2012
PLEDGE $100 OR MORE
A basket of 24 Heartsong Cookies dressed in Heartsong finery, a cookie named in your honor, a VIP invitation to Inaugural party, a T-shirt, a button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jun 2012
PLEDGE $250 OR MORE
A cookie tasting and beverage pairing party for 15, a cookie named in your honor, a VIP invitation to Inaugural party, a T-shirt, a button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jul 2012
PLEDGE $500 OR MORE
A cookie catering for 50, a cookie named in your honor, a VIP invitation to Inaugural party, a T-shirt, a button and a hug.
Estimated Delivery: Jul 2012
PLEDGE $1,000 OR MORE
You are officially a Big Hugger with your name on the Heartsong Cookies and Moo Truck, a cookie catering for 100, a cookie named in your honor, a VIP invitation to Inaugural party, a T-shirt, a button and a hug.
